COCHON 555

FIG, a seasonal restaurant in Santa Monica, is pleased to announce its own Chef Ray Garcia as the winner of the annual Los Angeles Cochon 555, the California leg of the renowned ten city porcine competition.Garcia will bring his pork expertise to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen on June 16, where he will compete against nine other Cochon 555 winners for the title of ‘King or Queen of Porc’ at the Grand Cochon competition.

Chef Ray stole this year’s Los Angeles Cochon 555 on Sunday, May 5th, with his pork ceviche and pork butt tamales. Garcia won the ‘Prince of Porc’ title over four other competing chefs, including Joshua Whigham of The Bazaar, Jet Tila of The Charleston, Sean Dent of House of Blues and Gavin Lansdale of Ford’s Filling Station, each of whom were given an heirloom pig from which to create a series of nose to tail dishes. Chef Ray and his team’s ‘Cinco de Puerco’ theme (a festive play on Cinco de Mayo), complete with luchadore costumes and Mexican-inspired dishes, had the Cochon crowd clamoring to the FIG table at the competition in the House of Blues.

Cochon 555 is a food event like no other, with talented competitors, amazing product, and passionate supporters,” says Garcia. “I am honored to represent Los Angeles as the city’s Prince of Porc and look forward to joining some of the country’s finest chefs at Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.”

Chef Ray’s Grand Cochon competitors include Missy Robbins of New York City’s A Voce, Cosmo Gross of Publican Quality Meats in Chicago and Mike Isabella of Washington D.C.‘s Graffiato. A full list of competitors can be found via Grand Cochon.

FIG, an active part of the Santa Monica community, is located on Second Street between Wilshire Blvd. and California Ave. at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows with complimentary valet parking for diners. The restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. for breakfast, lunch Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5p.m. to 10 p.m. and brunch on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.For reservations call (310) 319-3111.For more information, visit FIGSANTAMONICA.COM.